Thursday, July 28, 2005
The Over Class
07/28/2005
Hard work and long hours keep me from this diary, however we have enjoyed a fair few days, cloudy, even a spot of light rain, but basically dry and cool. The glen is overflowing with dark green and growth, we are vigilant against imported weeds such as Knot Weed and Ragwort, but god knows what all these bloody campers bring in on their £200 trainers apart from ignorance and loo paper. I have already found two good ewes choked on plastic bags, and there will be more to follow. I have had a long conversation with someone noticing my comments about the aggressive driving habits of the new Civil Servants. This friend spent a lot of time informing me about just how far we have gone along the road to a Federal States of Europe and how the Civil Service, bankers, Quangos, Academia, Lawyers, Accountants and Architects have formed a new “Broderbund” as the cannon fodder and cash/tax cows for the new Europe. Below this Over Class are the honest tradesmen, merchants, hewers of wood, metal, soap, etc. Below them again are the consumers of subsides, services and benefits, these peasants and poor who do not vote and are in the long term expendable. Part of the therapy is the removal of national identity (the UK split into twelve regions, process already started through multi-culturalism and regional government) so that we are all European Regions, not nations, with a common currency and federal government. My friend was a bit left of centre and did not use the term “National Socialism” but it was clear that he warned against the re-emergence of Fascism. My friend had nothing to sell, but many of his facts are verifiable, just look at the huge budgets spent on the new European Army, usurping NATO with cash that would wipe out UK health waiting lists at a stroke. The cheery thought is that we few with title and privilege will be the first to be shot, probably within the next twenty years or so, the signal is when some mid ranking Over-Class takes a fancy to your property, then its curtains! Thank God for midgies, they will put off the most ardent Brown Shirt. The prize for our political leaders? Hey, the biggest trading block in the world, your own bank, your own super army and a democracy where more than half of your people can’t be bothered to vote you out. Oh bugger, I listened to this chap. too long. God Bless, Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Old Blue Movies
07/25/2005
Despite my hectic schedule, I have spent a particularly pleasant weekend with some hours fishing, plenty of socialising and a superb trip seaweed harvesting with the Glen Orchy Kerrs. Blue skies, blue seas, fair breezes and an excellent harvest, at my request we put into Carsaig Bay on the Ross of Mull for a picnic lunch, this is one of the most beautiful bays in Scotland and was at her best in the fair weather. Carsaig was one of the locations for my favourite film of all time “I know where I’m going” which celebrates its 60th birthday this year and I have a recording of the film which I play as a special treat. Because of our long history, we Trollaighs have a fireproof storage vault to keep portfolios of historical written records; pompously called for some reason the Trollaigh Mundiments. Each generation guards this guff like the very devil and of course updates and adds to it as the years roll by, my own contribution has been to transfer Great Uncle Edward’s extensive collection of Victorian and Edwardian exotica to video. Spurred on by the muse of a 60th anniversary tour of the locations for “I know where I’m going” I have discussed with the household the idea of selected paying guests enjoying a weekend viewing of Uncle Edward’s life’s work. We could add a brief walking tour of some of the more obvious backdrops, for instance the “Black Shepherdess and Flock” sequence at the White Falls, not forgetting the simply amazing roller-skating montage on the Great Drive. Lachie is most enthusiastic as, I have so far forbidden him access to the material in case he does himself a mischief; Mhairi on the other hand is a little huffy. However, I can see that dearest Dottie is considering the financial implications of elderly perverts being prepared to pay serious wonga to view a unique archive in the considerable comfort of the Great Tower of Trollaigh; regrettably, re-enactments would contravene several local by-laws. The low of the weekend has been the summer chore of sweeping up half a trailer full of rubbish left by campers exercising their right of access to my policies, in addition to the usual smelly detritus, this weekend I was most generously bequeathed two broken deckchairs. However, the undoubted highlight of the weekend has been the news that the Glen Orchy Kerr’s youngest, Jono, has been accepted has a suitable husband by Heather Cole. This is the most splendid and welcome news and dearest Dottie and I offer our heartfelt good wishes and our hope that they will enjoy many years together. My only concern is that Heather’s father has the details of our address for the invitation, as above all else dearest Dottie and I enjoy a really good wedding. Cheers, yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.